Everything You Need to Know About Standard & Performance Harley Hubs

Harley performance hubs from SMT Wheels are lighter and stronger than your stock/standard hub. Also, our bolt-locking system will keep them locked in no matter how much stress you put on them. But first…

What is a Motorcycle Hub?

Wondering what all the hubbub is about regarding Harley hubs and motorcycle performance? Located in the center of the bike’s front and rear wheels, the hub connects the wheel to the motorcycle’s axle. It is the core of the wheel assembly, housing the wheel’s bearings and providing the attachment point to the wheel’s spokes or rims.

How a Hub Works

The hub’s primary functions are to provide:

• Bearing Support: Hubs contain bearings that allow the wheel to rotate smoothly. These bearings, typically ball bearings or roller bearings, reduce friction and enable the wheel to spin freely.
• Wheel Attachment: Hubs secure the wheel to the axle, ensuring it remains in place and rotates as intended. The wheel’s spokes or rim attach to the hub, creating a complete wheel assembly.
• Weight Distribution: The hub plays a role in distributing the weight of the motorcycle and rider evenly across the wheel. Proper weight distribution is crucial for stability and control.
• Power Transmission: Hubs transfer power to the wheel.

Types of Motorcycle Hubs

There are different hub designs to suit different types of motorcycles, models, and riding styles.

• Performance Harley Hubs: A lighter, stronger, less bulky performance hub that is machined to be as light as possible but still maintains or surpasses the strength of a conventional original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hub. We’ll talk more about its benefits later.
• Conventional Hubs: Durable and easy to maintain, this is a classic design found on many standard motorcycles. Conventional hubs feature bearings, a central hub body, and attachment points for spokes or rims.
• Disc Brake Hubs: The disc rotor is attached to the hub; calipers apply pressure to the rotor to slow down or stop the motorcycle.
• Single-sided Swingarm Hubs: Used on bikes with single-sided swingarms. They provide a sleek, streamlined look while still offering the same core functions as other hubs.
• Drum Brake Hubs: Found mostly in older vintage motorcycle models, drum brakes are integrated into the hubs. This design is less prevalent with more modern bikes that employ disc brakes (see below).
• Hub-Centered Steering Hubs: An uncommon hub that is purposed for motorcycles that use sidecars, hub-centered steering hubs provide greater stability and control. While hub-centered steering has a number of advantages, it is considerably more expensive to manufacture and maintain and requires exceptionally experienced mechanics to tune and repair.

5 Performance Hubs That Will Fit Your Harley-Davidson

There are five performance hubs we sell for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Our hubs are designed to work with SMT custom wheels ONLY. Available in black anodized and chrome finishes. Made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum. Single disc or dual disc, front or rear.

Harley Hub Maintenance

Proper maintenance of your Harley motorcycle hubs is essential for both safety and performance. Here are some key maintenance tips to follow:

• Regular Inspection: Periodically check for play or wobbling in the wheels, which could indicate loose or worn-out bearings that require replacement.
• Lubrication: Bearings within the hubs require lubrication. Consult your Harley motorcycle’s manual for the recommended lubrication intervals and use high-quality, motorcycle-specific grease.
• Seal Inspection: Ensure that the hub’s seals are in good condition. These seals keep dirt, debris, and moisture out, protecting the bearings and extending their lifespan.
• Wheel Truing: If you have spoked wheels, keep them properly trued to maintain even weight distribution and prevent vibration or handling issues.
• Brake Maintenance: If your hub houses the brake components, regularly inspect and maintain the braking system, including brake pads, rotors, and calipers.
• Proper Torque: When reinstalling wheels or hubs, tighten all fasteners to the manufacturer’s recommended torque specifications to prevent loose components that wear out faster and can endanger a safe ride.

Why Performance Hubs Are Not Just for Racing

There’s a common misconception that the term “performance hub” is reserved only for racing motorcycles. SMT sells Harley performance hubs because we believe every bike needs to perform as smooth and safe as possible. Our hub upgrade option is made as light as possible but maintains the strength of your Harley wheels.

These hubs are designed with Bagger Racing and V-Twin racing in mind but are also perfect for everyday use to gain much higher performance than the average cast or OEM hubs. They work best with all GT Series and Performance Series motorcycle wheels, Harley-Davidson performance wheels, and SMT-exclusive Racing wheels.

How SMT Performance Parts Benefit You & Your Harley

While often overshadowed by more glamorous performance parts such as wheels or pipes, the hub is the unsung hero of your ride that deserves to be upgraded to a high-performance part. It provides the foundation for a safe, smooth, and enjoyable motorcycle journey. Understanding the type of hub your Harley-Davidson needs and how to properly maintain it are essential to keeping your motorcycle running optimally.

Next time you take your Harley out for a spin, give thanks to the performance part that often gets overlooked but without it you couldn’t even ride.